John 18 4

John 18:4 kjv

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

John 18:4 nkjv

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

John 18:4 niv

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"

John 18:4 esv

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"

John 18:4 nlt

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" he asked.

John 18 verses

John 18 4 Meaning

John 18:4 reveals Jesus's profound, divine foreknowledge and sovereign control over His impending passion. Despite knowing every detail of the suffering, betrayal, and death that awaited Him, Jesus deliberately and courageously stepped forward to confront His captors. His proactive question, "Whom seek ye?", demonstrates not only His full awareness of their purpose but also His ultimate authority, turning His arrest into an act of willing self-surrender guided by divine purpose, rather than an incident of being caught unaware or overcome.

John 18 4 Context

John 18:4 immediately follows the description of the armed contingent – Judas, Roman soldiers, and Jewish temple officers – entering the garden of Gethsemane (Jn 18:3) where Jesus and His disciples were. Jesus, having finished His farewell discourses and High Priestly Prayer (Jn 13-17), has now entered the critical hour of His passion. This verse initiates the detailed account of Jesus's arrest, trials, and crucifixion, forming a crucial turning point in John's narrative. Historically, the arrest was a nighttime operation, executed by both Roman authority (a cohort, indicating hundreds of soldiers) and Jewish religious authorities (temple police), signifying a joint, authoritative attempt to suppress Jesus. John consistently portrays Jesus not as a passive victim, but as actively submitting to and controlling His destiny, contrasting sharply with any notions of being caught or surprised.

John 18 4 Word analysis

• Jesus: The divine Son of God, central to the narrative, not merely a human figure. His name carries weight, identifying Him as the promised Messiah and Lord.
• therefore: Connects Jesus's action to His prior state of knowledge. It implies a logical, volitional decision based on His omniscience, not a reaction of surprise or fear.
• knowing (εἰδὼς - eidōs): A perfect active participle, conveying complete, intuitive, and pre-emptive awareness. This is not just intellectual understanding, but profound, divine foreknowledge that permeates His entire being. John frequently emphasizes Jesus's knowing to highlight His deity (e.g., Jn 2:25, 6:6, 13:1, 13:11).
• all things (πάντα - panta): Absolute universality. No detail of His impending suffering, betrayal, or death was hidden from Him. This reinforces the comprehensive nature of His divine knowledge.
• that should come upon Him (τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἐπ' αὐτόν - ta erkhomena ep' auton): Literally "the things coming upon Him." Refers to the full spectrum of the passion: arrest, false trials, mockery, scourging, crucifixion, death. The Greek implies an active process, things "coming to pass," not passively "happening" to Him, further demonstrating the predetermined nature.
• went forth (ἐξῆλθεν - exēlthen): A decisive, intentional movement out of hiding or from His immediate group towards the approaching contingent. This is an act of proactive engagement and self-surrender, contrasting with being sought out and found against His will.
• and said unto them: Direct, open address. Jesus initiates the verbal encounter, demonstrating His calm and control amidst overwhelming numbers and hostility.
• Whom seek ye? (Τίνα ζητεῖτε; - Tíní zēteite?): A direct question, immediately seizing the initiative. It compels His captors to articulate their purpose, effectively positioning Himself as the answer to their search. This question foreshadows the profound implications of "seeking Jesus" – whether for salvation or for judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Jesus therefore, knowing all things: Establishes Jesus's divine authority and prescience as the foundation for His subsequent actions. His sovereignty is front and center; He is not a victim of circumstance but actively aware and engaged in the unfolding divine plan. This portrays Him as the one orchestrating the encounter.
• that should come upon Him, went forth: This phrase explicitly links His foreknowledge with His voluntary action. He doesn't retreat or hide, but steps towards the events He knows will occur, indicating His willing participation in the divine will for human redemption. His movement is a proactive step in His self-sacrifice.
• and said unto them, Whom seek ye?: This encounter is initiated by Jesus, despite the military force sent against Him. His calm, direct question highlights His poise and control, subtly exposing the true nature of their mission and His identity as the focal point of their search, even if their intentions are hostile.

John 18 4 Bonus section

The active "went forth" (ἐξῆλθεν) contrasts markedly with what might be expected from someone facing overwhelming force and betrayal. It portrays Jesus not merely accepting His fate, but embracing it as His divine mission. This narrative detail also presents a deliberate counter-narrative to human weakness; while His disciples would soon flee, Jesus demonstrates ultimate resolve and courageous self-possession. Furthermore, the simplicity and directness of "Whom seek ye?" not only sets the stage for His arrest but also serves as an implicit challenge: many "seek" Jesus, but with vastly different intentions. His question exposes the malice of His captors while offering a moment for identification and recognition. This short verse, therefore, encapsulates profound theological truths about Jesus's identity, power, and salvific purpose.

John 18 4 Commentary

John 18:4 serves as a pivotal verse, encapsulating John's overarching theme of Jesus's divine sovereignty even in His suffering. By stressing Jesus's absolute foreknowledge ("knowing all things") of "what should come upon Him," John elevates the arrest from a mere human conspiracy to a divinely ordained, albeit harrowing, segment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus's deliberate act of "going forth" to meet His captors, rather than being apprehended, powerfully underscores His free and active will in laying down His life (Jn 10:17-18). His question, "Whom seek ye?", further asserts His authority and presence, forcing those who come with physical force to articulate their true quarry. He is not caught off guard; He is the initiator, turning what appears to be His capture into a willing act of self-giving, controlled entirely by His divine purpose and obedience to the Father's will. This demonstrates that even in vulnerability, Jesus remains sovereign, fulfilling scripture and moving towards His intended sacrifice.